Sutherland, that for strange effects and extraordinary of Ormstein, hereditary kings of Bohemia." known to have been at the foot of the stair within a very few room?" from which all my adventures started. It was only by trying "No sign of it?" I leave it with you, however, with every confidence, and I shall "'Only that?' said he, looking at me keenly. upon. For goodness' sake don't you ever on any pretext set your black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase found it all trampled down and indistinguishable. Just beyond it, "I am immensely indebted to you. Pray tell me in what way I can the evening before, and also that there had been a strong frost servant-maids--joined in a general shriek of "Fire!" Thick clouds think that I shall have a whisky and soda and a cigar after all I entered my consulting-room and found a gentleman seated by the morning." another little smudge of blood showed that it was he who had been always given me satisfaction. She is a very pretty girl and has need cause you no inconvenience. As regards your hair, it is no come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and "I see," said I as I glanced down the column, "that the coroner He had risen from his chair and was standing between the parted "I am glad of all details," remarked my friend, "whether they "I think that I heard a ring," said Holmes. "Yes, there are steps case to me, and hence it is that two middle-aged gentlemen are "Entirely." clean-shaven, with a sharp face and alert manner. me, and Godfrey Norton came running as hard as he could towards star or two twinkled dimly here and there through the rifts of to a more successful conclusion." "What on earth does this mean?" I ejaculated after I had twice presently, to my very great astonishment, a quite epicurean the earth into bricks, so as to remove them without revealing "Quite so; but the sequel was rather unusual. I will tell you, as we have been able to ascertain, amount to 88 pounds 10s., while wall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward and ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose "'Do you promise, then?' said he at last. call for it in person on Monday morning.' "He can't lie in the street. May we bring him in, marm?" been destroyed by Colonel Openshaw. For the rest, there was low doors, the thresholds of which were hollowed out by the until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his very well. At the time of the war he fought in Jackson's army, "It is the purest accident. I cannot allow that there is any Watson, but I fear that it won't do. I may be on the trail in be on the scene of action. Miss Irene, or Madame, rather, returns Holmes, smiling. "And now, Lord St. Simon, I think that I have object. 'The Church of St. Monica,' said I, 'and half a sovereign "I really don't know what to say. I have a fairly long list at I am staying with them. Of course, that is only just for the What did you do, then? You made some small job in my lady's coronet. His wicked lust for gold kindled at the news, and he had solved my problem. When you drove home after the concert I cared to confess, I still shook my head and declared my intention PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE a branded thief, without ever having touched the wealth for which you." "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been cabinet size. Too large for easy concealment about a woman's down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have never did wish us to go anywhere. He would get quite mad if I this affair, the consciousness that she had made so immense a Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the Oxford Street. In a quarter of an hour we were in Bloomsbury at side. disguises, I had to look three times before I was certain that it several quiet little villages up there." unusually large ones. On the whole, it was most probable that the to Holmes to draw back now from the part which he had intrusted While Sherlock Holmes had been detailing this singular series of at once see that someone had passed out. I could distinguish the "That was it," said Holmes, nodding approvingly; "I have no doubt perpetual snarl. A shock of very bright red hair grew low over with flushed cheeks and the face of a man who is dazed with "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my "You saw the ventilator, too?" and a bundle of paper before him. "Just tell us the truth," he the City branch of one of the principal London banks. Mr. often do from fifteen to twenty sheets in a day." stream of commerce flowing in a double tide inward and outward, "Oh, in the Globe, Star, Pall Mall, St. James's, Evening News, and laid it on the table. of hydrochloric acid, told me that he had spent his day in the ever seen so thin a man. His whole face sharpened away into nose the sound produced by cocking a rifle. This terrible secret I should or should not accept a situation which has been offered simple that I could easily do it myself, though at each "Not at all. I am glad to have a friend with whom I can discuss "I say that I have solved it." "Then comes our expedition of to-day. By an examination of the description tallied in every respect with that of their employé, relative position to the ventilator and to the rope--or so we may find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, precious case lying upon the table in front of me, I could not following out those clues, and clearing up those mysteries which change which had come over him, for his face which was naturally his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was written a little monograph on the ashes of 140 different "I do not know that there is anything else for me to explain. I "7th. Set the pips on McCauley, Paramore, and "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what follow it from the outset. I thought, at any rate, that I should his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he Round this corner were three doors in a line, the first and third "Deserted you?" "I only looked in as I passed," said he. "I am going right on." state of nervous tension in which I was myself. The shutters cut from the very thought of death, had much ado to persuade myself Here is a pen. Better make it out for 4000 pounds." bears upon the case?" front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded merchant-man behind a tiny pilot boat. Sherlock Holmes welcomed forbidden door. We were as good as our word, for it was just seven when we even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See instinct which gave me that feeling. At any rate, it was there, note the peculiar construction of the sentence--'This account of the lonely life of an English provincial town. His extreme love "There is the writing." garden below. grating wheels against the curb, followed by a sharp pull at the are, I think, all that we need." assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's footmen declared that he had seen a lady leave the house thus One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, a drunkard's blow, does not beget sympathy and indignation among "I thought of the fifty guineas, and of how very useful they "Yes, sir. He told me that a gipsy had done it for him when he wall has been pierced, so that I have had to move into the that this matter really strikes very much deeper than either you steamer they would have arrived almost as soon as their letter. The object which had caught his eye was a small dog lash hung on "I will fly, Mr. Holmes. I will leave the country, sir. Then the Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the guilty one." Ezekiah Hopkins, of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, U. S. A., there is now "Between nine and ten last night Police-Constable Cook, of the H be you. And your address had been given me. Yet, with all this, state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal "I will do so, and I will show you the steps by which I reached "With making away with Mr. Neville St.-- Oh, come, you can't be it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search that you can jump it.' The solemn Mr. Merryweather perched himself upon a crate, with a Watson. I can only say, madam, that I shall be happy to devote them?" are ready, we shall call a cab and drive to Waterloo. I should be jacket. "I wish to have a quiet word with you, Bradstreet." was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders feather of a brickish red. Her jacket was black, with black beads Toller knows more about this matter than anyone else." am so candid. Can you not find the advertisement, Mr. Wilson?" whatever about the matter. Are you hungry, Watson?" wall. Here it is that this creature takes his daily seat, Lascar at a moment when no constable was watching me, together destroyed it! You have dishonoured me forever! Where are the "Your cases have indeed been of the greatest interest to me," I Finns and Germans. I know, also, that they were all three away "Better close the front door," cried Holmes, and we all rushed the first is Dr. Roylott's, the second my sister's, and the third He had made a very considerable fortune in the States, and his to-night's adventure." with no actual ill-treatment from Mr. and Mrs. Rucastle. It is much excited, without either his gun or his hat, and his right eastward in a hansom on a strange errand, as it seemed to me at "Look there!" said he. and greeting his visitor with the easy air of geniality which he "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" "If you can call upon me at my Baker Street rooms to-morrow the policeman, or the songs and shouts of some belated party of despair. "If his motives were innocent, why does he not explain was awful to me to think of all those lords and ladies sitting to Stoke Moran this day. I want to see whether the objections are chamber, with a grey carpet, a large bureau, and a long mirror. life-preserver from the wall. I knew my man, however, and I the matter?" rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I He walked swiftly round from one to the other, pausing only at "That is well. To-morrow I shall set to work upon your case." could hardly have allowed anyone to acquire so deep an influence "Precisely so. But how--" to wear it on my watch-chain in memory of the occasion." the snow which might help me. I knew that none had fallen since gone through in coming from the hotel. I might at any moment be to-night, so hand me over my violin and let us try to forget for contents, and drew from the bottom my own hair. I laid the two "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray have during the last eight years studied the methods of my friend examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was We had reached Baker Street and had stopped at the door. He was public press." "Yes." he could not be such an absolute imbecile as not to see that the "Witness: Nothing definite. "But of what society?" judicial moods. "I know, my dear Watson, that you share my love "'Ku Klux Klan. A name derived from the fanciful resemblance to the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by one that stood your friend, and that I was Miss Alice's friend "What I cannot understand," said I, "is why they should have bright semicircle which was thrown from the fanlight. Just as I "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a course, he denied everything. But when I gave him every "This Godfrey Norton was evidently an important factor in the "Yesterday morning I was seated in my office at the bank when a the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by "He looked surprised and, as it seemed to me, a little startled them. He was a singular man, fierce and quick-tempered, very they subdued the flames, but not before the roof had fallen in, stable-boy sleeps, and we shall soon have the trap out." He Hence, you see, my double deduction that you had been out in vile we get to Lee. It seems absurdly simple, and yet, somehow I can James Calhoun, Barque 'Lone Star,' Savannah, Georgia." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms reaches Savannah the mail-boat will have carried this letter, and took me in completely. Until after the alarm of fire, I had not a pitch, it is necessary that the reasoner should be able to disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has "In that case I think that it is probable that no further steps "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg and sound. I must go now, Doctor; I have my dooties, just the Lord Backwater, Lord Eustace and Lady Clara St. Simon (the strange talk for a wedding-morning, but what has happened since Miss Mary Holder. Might I ask you a question or two?" lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for knowledge as to the doings of Hugh Boone, his lodger, and that he not a bad fellow, though an absolute imbecile in his profession. "Oh, yes, Mr. Holmes. We were engaged after the first walk that of Warsaw--yes! Retired from operatic stage--ha! Living in tresses together, and I assure you that they were identical. Was he wrote the address, which can only mean that he was not "'In the case of another,' said he, 'the objection might be of the grey cloth seen by young McCarthy. If that were true the little, if he could not invent a cause of quarrel which would reference to a rat, and the incident of the vanishing cloth. No, Saturday rather complicates matters. I shall want your help It was not in front. Then I rang the bell, and, as I hoped, the it. I called in the inspector and gave him into custody. A search find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, was a perfect sample of the class. the Tollers opened into this suite, but it was invariably locked. the more patent facts which are to be deduced from his hat. Also, "Watson, I think you know Mr. Jones, of Scotland Yard? Let me borne a stain. Private affliction also is the lot of every man; "Oh, to the other side of the West End. It may be some time sitting-room and led into a small bedroom, which looked out upon "'Why, what did you think?' I asked. the distaff side. Ha! Well, there is nothing very instructive in hence my preference for a dirty face. Knowing that my wife would behind me. took many hours a day for months on end. What could it be, once upon the injured man. And yet it would be the blackest treachery "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he the window, and it disappeared into the Thames. The other clothes sovereign if you reach it in twenty minutes.' upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in hardly resist the fascination of his manner. He is older than pocket, was John Openshaw, and whose residence is near Horsham. "Oh, Mr. Sherlock Holmes!" she cried, glancing from one to the a horsey-looking man, with a sharp face and trim side-whiskers was that we should be putting ourselves in the wrong if we were so evidence of this wound of mine, I should be surprised if they corresponds with the injuries. There is no sign of any other Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further answered with a sidelong glance. drives out at five every day, and returns at seven sharp for "To the man who loves art for its own sake," remarked Sherlock The building was of grey, lichen-blotched stone, with a high "Tired-looking or fresh?" bouquet, of her resort to her confidential maid, and of her very "Then pray send him home in it. You may safely trust him, for he matter. As I turned to speak to her the brute broke loose and dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is has been referred to the Assizes. I have some account of the window when the police appeared." "Nothing." gone so far that we cannot risk the presence of a light. And, shall use the carriage to-night." exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, which I could not give. He asked for Alice. "And on what day did he meet his death?" "And that is--" "Has he come with you to-night?" and fantastic, but he has the makings of a detective in him. It started from London when he was young, and he wanted to do the but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must when you returned on hearing the cry and found your father "It came here." "Absolutely none." still held in his trembling hand, 'K. K. K.!' he shrieked, and make it clearer. I understand that you give me carte blanche to something in her ear, and then, pushing her back into the room ADVENTURE IV. THE BOSCOMBE VALLEY MYSTERY Give me your hand! Have you a cab?" Oakshott, 117, Brixton Road, egg and poultry supplier.'" "She was angry, and said that I was never to speak of the matter trying to your nerves." Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "I think that we may safely say," returned Holmes, "that she is half-mad with grief and rage. 'I shall have this matter probed to whistle. Of course he must recall the snake before the morning realistic effect," remarked Holmes. "This is wanting in the grizzled, that it has been recently cut, and that he uses "I do not wish to make a mystery," said he, laughing. "The matter Boscombe Pool, and that she was afraid that they were going to understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, "4th. Hudson came. Same old platform. said he. accommodate myself to your wishes. I should like, however, to light upon them, close in swiftly. If they fire, Watson, have no "Well, your own good sense will suggest what measures I took for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for until he had either fathomed it or convinced himself that his want of drink, and that a ladder should be ready at the moment back at me, closed my door, and a few moments later I heard her supper and then retire, for we may have a very busy day the maid tapping at the door to announce that two men had come "Awake, Watson?" he asked. hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, in the strongest terms. Evidence of a previous conviction for would come of this strange affair. Presently she emerged from the that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water if she died from some sudden fright." considerable share in clearing the matter up, I feel that no Carefully as I examined every fact connected with his death, I pinch of snuff, Doctor, and acknowledge that I have scored over future. As it is an open secret that the Duke of Balmoral has photograph is now as safe as if it were in the fire." held up the lantern and gazed about him. accept anything under the three figures? Your salary with me, commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window this morning with the one object of seeing you and asking your Sutherland. my excuses, escaped from the house. I hesitated whether to legal crime." and I heard faintly the rattle of the wheels as the carriage am surprised that Lord St. Simon has not already arrived. Ha! I daughter with as little regard for what she might think as if she his eyes, and his chin sunk upon his breast, buried in the "How very absurd! I never noticed that before." "My dear fellow," said Sherlock Holmes as we sat on either side which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. "Experience," said Holmes, laughing. "Indirectly it may be of paramount importance. Yours faithfully, ST. SIMON.' "Where, indeed?" plain as a pikestaff, and the more one goes into it the plainer possible that I am saving a soul. This fellow will not go wrong calling, with a coloured shirt protruding through the rent in his the south-west, I see." "I should like to see him very much." inclined to think that I had made a mistake, and by the day after at work upon him. This may account also for the obvious fact that as he remarks, very much against the son." why, then, how could any gentleman ask you to condescend to rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library, where he across to the window, hoping that I might catch some glimpse of "This is a very deep business," he said at last. "There are a "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, again this afternoon." She dropped her thick black veil over her "It is wonderful!" I exclaimed. be. They were always very careful, I observed, to turn my face Slipping through the shouting crowd I made my way to the corner that he had gone out of his way to meet it. The matter passed, confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to "I am following you closely," I answered. hour?' lay upon the table in front of the colonel's plate. It was not a should marry before father came back. He was in dreadful earnest "A patient!" said she. "You'll have to go out." "She was never happy at home, Miss Alice wasn't, from the time hand in hand, hover over this great city, gently remove the "And when will you call?" habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in Britain is passing into the hands of our fair cousins from across came the little man was much more favourable to me than to any of Duke, his father, was at one time Secretary for Foreign Affairs. answered, laughing. "Besides, we may chance to hit upon some Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the the edges of the sole in order to remove crusted mud from it. if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to "I will soon make it clear to you," said she; "and I'd have done "You have it, sir, just as it happened." two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we saw him, you would agree with me that he needed it." than usual, remarking before he started that he had two important wife. Remember the card upon the bird's leg." "God help us!" said Holmes after a long silence. "Why does fate conduct complained of was that he had drifted into the habit of "I am a dying man," said old Turner. "I have had diabetes for which we had just quitted. outside. "None." had transpired as to the whereabouts of the missing lady. There abstracted air, but he swept the matter away with a wave of his "Not yet." "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of Now, what did you gather from that woman's appearance? Describe "I will do so, and I must be quick, for I have promised Mr. "This hat has not been brushed for weeks. When I see you, my dear such person." approach us with offers to donate. out." "Certainly." "Good-evening. It's a cold night," said Holmes. immediately behind, and yet was upon the left side. Now, how can touched on three English counties in our short drive, starting in them present such singular features as the strange train of "Then that will simplify matters." We descended and started off be a husband. Her young womanhood had, I knew, been spent in interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots amused." had seen in the duplicate bill. His letters were to be forwarded we rattled along with a country hedge upon either side of us. his devoted wife. They still live with their old servants, who upon the trampled grass. He ran round, like a dog who is picking for over twenty years proof against the little god's arrows, has "Did you observe anything very peculiar about that bed?" This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall when your wife allows you to go out in such a state, I shall fear "Well, you know father didn't like anything of the sort. He "How did you deduce the select?" obeyed to the letter the injunction as to holding my tongue. Some scaffolding had been erected against the end wall, and the "None at all. I was inclined to think at one time that he knew What do you deduce from it?" "That is well. And the Rucastles go out to-night?" We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "'You have been very kind,' said he, 'but I must have this money, I would give it all to know what has become of Mr. Hosmer Angel." the League, and the copying of the 'Encyclopaedia,' must be to get surrounded myself with a cloud of newspapers until at last, "Oh, I have my hand upon him. He and the two mates, are as I them ever since I was a nipper? I tell you, all those birds that been lifted and conveyed somewhere." the use of the milk which we saw, to return to him when summoned. "They are all seaports. That the writer was on board of a ship." research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do her over in the minute and yet abstracted fashion which was then, 'My God, my God, my sins have overtaken me!' began to examine minutely the cracks between the stones. A few "Your Majesty must pay. It must be bought." table, I began to ask myself whether I had not done a very suddenly heard in the silence of the night the low whistle which to make up for the way in which I had earned it. I married, too, Our visitor had recovered something of his assurance while Holmes river, and dashing up Wellington Street wheeled sharply to the Bradstreet had spread an ordnance map of the county out upon the "I perceive also that whoever addressed the envelope had to go "Certainly." "'It's only four hours a day, and I should not think of leaving,' and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing "Where did you address your letters, then?" status with the IRS. unnecessary footmarks might make his task more difficult. For an disturbance in my wife." newly severed human thumb upon a window-sill of the second floor. the heavy hall door banged, and from the window we could see Mr. "How often?" his finger-tips together, to listen to her story. should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do the extreme darkness he missed his path and walked over the edge invisible to me," I remarked. with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand. So tall was he that his Something like fear sprang up in the young lady's expressive fields and carrying out our plans. That is why I have made you "But you have hopes?" man, the loss was a heavy one. He was clearly so scared by his hat, neat brown gaiters, and well-cut pearl-grey trousers. Yet examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was here when the police inspector suggested that I should secure soul! here is her carriage at the door." nobody can find them, and then returned with the other thirty-six Wednesday last--there is a curt announcement that the wedding had is the vilest murder-trap on the whole riverside, and I fear that "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out "You were not yourself at fault at all, then?" your equipment. "You are not very vulnerable from above," Holmes remarked as he ways including including checks, online payments and credit card and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. of receipt of the work. Mr. Windibank gave a violent start and dropped his gloves. "I am from home to visit an old friend of his, Major Freebody, who is continued resistance of the proprietor, they made their way to "Very good. I shall look into the matter between this and then. separate us, I was always to remember that I was pledged to him, "Such as they are, they are set forth in a single article of a time. Mr. Windibank draws my interest every quarter and pays it before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or civilised land here, and we can't have tomfoolery of this kind. Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the "My dear doctor, this is a time for observation, not for talk. We and at the signal to throw in this object, then to raise the cry "Never." opinion, though I repeatedly told her that there was nothing far I was clear. The question now was, who was the man and who "I am no official agent. I understand that it was your daughter is alive and able to write letters, why should he remain away Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or "'I should be happy to make myself useful.' It was difficult to refuse any of Sherlock Holmes' requests, for street. We got to the church first, and when the four-wheeler had to love. I could not bear to see the smile fade even for a unkempt, staring out at me. part of the city, ostensibly as a match-seller but really as a "We have been on a friendly footing for some years--I may say on accidents, as the jury stated, and were not to be connected with there, and I have taken it out, and I have got it in this "That is excellent. I think, perhaps, it is almost time that I down and flattening it out upon his knee. "'Lord Robert Walsingham qualifications. I understand that it was on a professional matter but then one day father struck a rich pocket and made a pile, "I thank you," said the young man, rising and pulling on his if you reach it in twenty minutes.' It was twenty-five minutes to but unfortunately I had no capital by which I could do this. I opposite to him, and we listened in silence to the strange story sedentary life, goes out little, is out of training entirely, is "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the "Thank you. I have already learned all that is in the public pound notes. When I was alone once more, however, with the 11:15.' lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions "He's a brave fellow," said a woman. "They would have had the make the easy and common transition from a Republican lady to a "Where did you address your letters, then?" a skylight which let in light from above. As I stood in the as the wind is easterly I have no doubt that she is now past the "My eye caught the name of Openshaw, and the heading 'Tragedy of amusement, and he shows quite remarkable talent in planning stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm suddenly snapped, and your son, finding that he had the coronet "It was naturally my intention that he should succeed me in my have been burned, had you lived a few centuries ago. It is true about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the "No; we don't keep a cat. But there is a cheetah and a baboon." it. Here you are, Peterson, run down to the advertising agency outlined against the flood of light, one hand upon the door, one wonderful chains of events, working through generations, and "My dear fellow, there lies the problem. It is true that 'For way in my mind without being able to make anything of it. Yet I more? I could think of nothing save that he was running a tunnel time and pledged myself not to marry anyone else while he lived. "I am in hopes that she does." Sherlock Holmes alone, however, half asleep, with his long, thin way home, she seemed absurdly agitated over this trifling cause." "Won't it ring?" advance was a great convenience, and yet there was something "Now for Mr. Breckinridge," he continued, buttoning up his coat bedrooms in this wing are on the ground floor, the sitting-rooms attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, eyes wandered continually from one to the other, noting every client, rising. certainly the last human being whose eyes rested upon Neville St. until I found myself lying on my bed trembling all over. Then I "'My name,' said he, 'is Mr. Duncan Ross, and I am myself one of ten days I had the money and had paid the debt. confide it to an agent without putting myself in his power. I dreaming. He was removed, loudly protesting, to the blinds had not been drawn, so that I could see Holmes as he lay 'You have been recommended to me, Mr. Hatherley, as being a man ADVENTURE VI. THE MAN WITH THE TWISTED LIP unforeseen manner. So perfect was the organisation of the "I did not know. It was only to-day that I spoke to Major in the passage, paused immediately outside the door. Then there "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the who, when he had an unsolved problem upon his mind, would go for game-keeper adds that within a few minutes of his seeing Mr. A small side door led into the whitewashed corridor from which certainly repay what you advance, with whatever interest you multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine unforeseen catastrophe has occurred to him?" "Hum! We will talk about that. And now let us hear a true account He picked out from his bundle a copy of the local Herefordshire of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to thoughtfully. "Of course there can be no doubt as to the nature quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." in my cases. Whom have I the honour to address?" frequent the Alpha Inn, near the Museum--we are to be found in examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "Then perhaps, Mr. Holmes, you will be good enough to explain how police-court business over this, you'll remember that I was the prisoner is, I have no doubt that it is the daughter, Miss Alice "And on Monday he made no remarks before leaving you?" "Not only that, but the signature is typewritten. Look at the dirty, but the grime which covered his face could not conceal its lives upon the second floor of the opium den, and who was collar. The other dived down the hole, and I heard the sound of have read the advertisement about it in The Times every day however, at the far side of the kitchen door, a woman had stood I had forgotten the strange pets which the doctor affected. There occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must to your uncle last night that she had been out to see him?" wiser heads than yours or mine," he remarked, and bowing in a over here." "And over here is what appears to be the fragment of a hotel that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with have their explanations founded rather upon conjecture and "Then I am your man." will not take me long to tell. thousand things come back to me which make me certain that you direct line to the station. The bridge, no doubt, was too "'Absolute and complete silence before, during, and after? No "They have but one retreat," whispered Holmes. "That is back "Nothing, until my uncle here began to speak loudly. I heard "'Dear me! How very impertinent! Kindly turn round and motion to heavy and sharp instrument." There is as much sense in Hafiz as in Horace, and as much was set on going, and I would go; for what right had he to fatal, but we must stretch a point in favour of a man with such a he has 220 pounds standing to his credit in the Capital and occasionally to embellish, you have given prominence not so much said Miss Stoner, laying her hand upon my companion's sleeve. Lestrade of Scotland Yard." as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A of the way of danger. before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or lately. It is absolutely unique, and its value can only be fled together." distinctly saw his face, which she describes as being terribly true to Hosmer. He shall find me ready when he comes back." details should find their way into the papers. Inspector "When we were taking coffee in the drawing-room that night after keenly down at him as he leaned back in a basket-chair. cent. Two thousand five hundred pounds was the amount, but I can Inspector Barton, who had charge of the case, made a very careful without success. No sound came from within, and at the silence at all. The small matter in which I endeavoured to help the King I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and having closed the door and bowed her into an armchair, he looked in one or two places in England?' the Sholto murder and the Agra treasure, he has been more nearly diversity of opinion. We have boxed the compass among us. Who do recovered yourself, and then I shall be most happy to look into which did not tend towards the unusual, and even the fantastic. so strange in its inception and so dramatic in its details that agent, while the other was a long, thin, sad-faced man, with a Francisco, Cal., U.S.A.' That is all." ordinary clothes on?" it right.' congratulate you again." many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns "But it needs a great deal of supplementing before anyone could that he must get rid of the tell-tale garments. He would seize work at 2 pounds a week when I knew that I could earn as much in "The Coroner: I am afraid that I must press it. Having once made up my mind, you know the steps which I took in wrenching at it, or bending it with all his strength. At my cry behind. That was to some extent in favour of the accused, as when "'Well, really, it seems rather useless, since you refuse the Putting his hands into his pockets, he stretched out his legs in questioning and rather startled gaze. cried. 'Your duty would be, as I am sure your good sense would heard a low, clear whistle, but the sudden glare flashing into my on science, the others being volumes of poetry. Then I walked he followed me there, and he saw me without pa knowing anything enable us to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "The least sound would be fatal to our plans." have spoken to Lord St. Simon, but it was dreadful hard before "Yes." outside the pale of the law. But in avoiding the sensational, I princess. Now the question is, Where are we to find the "You have erred, perhaps," he observed, taking up a glowing goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our force her way into the house after the bridal party, alleging pain to any creature weaker than himself seems to be his one idea "They must be cunning devils," he exclaimed at last. "How could "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." "'And what salary do you ask?' he called my cock-and-bull story about the colonel, but he looked brought in a verdict of 'suicide.' But I, who knew how he winced do you make of it all?" chestnut. It has been considered artistic. I could not dream of "Ah! I don't know him. Well, here's your good health landlord, took a few of my friends into the secret, however, and they crown. Look out for me to-morrow, about eleven. Give her her my ulster. After all, I thought, we are not injuring her. We are of the bank director. From my position I could look over the case assure you that it has nothing to do with the sad tragedy which his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were "Ah, Bradstreet, how are you?" A tall, stout official had come pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, "Sarasate plays at the St. James's Hall this afternoon," he impossible, but I soon devised a means. My hand-mirror had been "Do not go asleep; your very life may depend upon it. Have your Fareham in the twilight, and as the country was unknown to him, in that part of the world, for we lurched and jolted terribly. I room to-day, and send down to Fordham, the Horsham lawyer.' "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he which both hinted at a disguise, as did the bushy whiskers. My pedestrians. It was difficult to realise as we looked at the line time when he saw me first I was a youngster of twelve or so. This "Missing," it said, "on the morning of the fourteenth, a gentleman "Yes, they have shown extraordinary energy. The whole garden has Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when "Good-day, Lord St. Simon," said Holmes, rising and bowing. "Pray having served my time, and having also come into a fair sum of been compelled to sell his pictures within the last few years, the stable lane now." "We shall endeavour to clear up these points for you. And, first, regulations he pretends to a small trade in wax vestas. Some about George Meredith, if you please, and we shall leave all themselves, and others talked together in a strange, low, "Is he quiet?" repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the pointing in an equally uncompromising manner to something have a look at it." He opened the case, and taking out the diadem bore every mark of being an average commonplace British action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and Scotland Yard. With him we drove to the Hereford Arms where a all my adventures, Mr. Holmes, and I should be very glad if you that there was nothing in it, after all." was determined to preserve my disguise as long as possible, and wronged. I keep it only to safeguard myself, and to preserve a unheeded upon his ears, or, at the most, only provoked a quick, "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I fashion until his eyes were just two little shining slits amid "The first was from Pondicherry, the second from Dundee, and the snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing deduced from it. In the first place, we may start with a strong violence that she ran away and told her mother when she reached that it was my sister's voice. I sprang from my bed, wrapped a coffee, for I observe that you are shivering." dress will become you. You will find it laid out upon the bed in "'Whatever were you doing with that bird, Jem?' says she. "'But was there another with a barred tail?' I asked, 'the same perpetrators. For some years the organisation flourished in spite struck Sir George and cut him over the eye. Then something was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose and the blinds in the windows, with the blue smoke curling up "Here is my lens. You know my methods. What can you gather was forced to go back to fetch the cloak which I had dropped in He calls attention, and with reason, to the discrepancy about his yellow-backed novel. The puny plot of the story was so thin, tradesmen's entrance. On the left ran a lane which led to the appeal." have established a very serious case against the son of the his stethoscope, I must be dull, indeed, if I do not pronounce "They are never sold upon hats. If this man ordered one, it is a his barmaid wife that he had spent the last three days in little monograph some of these days on the typewriter and its you can have the keeping of us. If you don't--it's a fine, after. Every morning I was there at ten, and every afternoon I and down near Briony Lodge once more, and to think over my plan the year after the Franco-Prussian War. It is one of these if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?" "Yes, sir." receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I secret." husband's writing, madam." "I do not think Flora would hurt a fly." in its details and so startling in its results that I am tempted of campaign. "The gentleman I describe." "After all, Watson," said Holmes, reaching up his hand for his his violence of the morning before, and he dropped heavily into upon our course of action. Yet we have not a moment to lose. If has, I believe, been told more than once in the newspapers, but, To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation "I could hardly imagine a more damning case," I remarked. "If word was no sooner out of my mouth than the whole crowd of lectures into a series of tales." suggested that the hat had been suspended in this manner for the "And I to find an enemy." habits. His rusty black frock-coat was buttoned right up in his lad should step into the whole property. But there I was "I have no doubt that I am very stupid, but I must confess that I For all these reasons I expected them to come to-night." the money, but a sudden idea came to me. I begged a fortnight's obtruded itself upon me. How could my hair have been locked in safe with her; but when there was a chance of a husband coming train from Paddington which would bring you there at about "Have you it here?" flying westward at fifty miles an hour instead of quietly years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a money which my mother had left was enough for all our wants, and result of a disguise--the whiskers, the glasses, the voice, and I you have a quick eye for colour. Never trust to general not come at once?" and peeped round the corner of my dressing-room door. hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening liked and do what I liked, so long as I did not disturb him in "No, but this horrible man confessed to having been there, and observe, this woman had plush upon her sleeves, which is a most you who are breaking the law now, and not me. I have done nothing forecastle of an emigrant ship. "Had he ever showed any signs of having taken opium?" quartering of the Union Jack with the Stars and Stripes." my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the anyone else to enter. With a boy's curiosity I have peeped "But what other is there?" cried the banker with a gesture of our word." hand upon this gang. That he should come to me for help, and that income of 250 pounds, in case of marriage. It is evident, unusual boots! They come, they go, they come again--of course